Trudeau deserves credit on tariffs, now, on pensions ...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on a mini-tour of Canadian towns and cities to talk about the threat of steel and aluminum tariffs.

Cue the jokes about selfies and wisecracks about style over substance. Trudeau deserves much of the criticism he has received and will continue to get.

But on this particular file, at this time, he’s doing the right thing. Touring factories may seem more symbolic than substantive, but Trudeau going right to the people facing the most serious consequences from Trump’s threats is the right and statesmanlike thing to do.

Trudeau and his government have faced more than a little criticism in this space, for broken promises, for setting aside aspirations in favour of expediency, for seeming unconcerned about the growth of deficits and debt.

But on the question of handling Trump’s threats and ultimatums, and overall on their handling of NAFTA renegotiation to date, there’s more to praise than damnation.

In Hamilton and Quebec, Trudeau did his share of flesh-pressing and selfie-selling, as any politician would. But he has done much more.

Even his strongest critics have acknowledged Trudeau’s direct intervention, in the form of a phone call with Trump last week, was a major if not deciding factor in the president finally agreeing to exempt Canada and Mexico from those damaging tariffs.

Yes, the exemptions are temporary, and Trump says if the U.S. doesn’t get what it wants in NAFTA talks, he won’t hesitate to lift them. And there’s a long road ahead in any case.

But for a leader who many predicted would be outsmarted at every turn by the perceived tougher and cagier Trump, Trudeau has done well for Canada. So far.

The next phase of the Canada-U.S. relationship may be the toughest yet. International Trade Minister Christia Freeland has to maintain her position that NAFTA isn’t linked to Trump’s tariff threats, while at the same time working behind the scenes to identify and deliver enough to keep American negotiators happy.

It’s a tall order, and anyone who thinks Canada won’t have to give anything up in return for dodging the tariff bullet isn’t being realistic.

Still, in all, Freeland and her negotiating entourage have done an admirable job so far under difficult circumstances. They’ve been criticized for not being tough enough, and for being too inflexible, for being unwilling to sacrifice key Canadian priorities and for appearing willing to give a way the farm.

But Canada is still standing, and the future looks brighter than it did a few months ago. Freeland and Trudeau deserve credit for that.

One thing more about Trudeau’s factory tour. He repeatedly said his government has the back of threatened workers. Fair enough. But if that’s true, let’s see a concrete manifestation.

A great starting point would be the long overdue overhaul of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement ACT (CCAA), which in its current form has resulted in workers and retirees of bankrupt companies, such as U.S. Steel, being last on the food chain and facing the loss of income, benefits and security they’ve paid into for lifetimes. It’s toxic legislation that is harming a growing number of Canadians, and it needs to be fixed before more are hurt. That’s what you call having the backs of workers, Mr. Prime Minister.

Trudeau has done well for Canada. So far.